Search results for: “convert”

Dibuang Keluarga Sebab Convert To Islam

Selepas dibuang keluarga kerana pengislaman saya, saya mulakan kehidupan saya from the scratch. Dulu masa saya tinggal bersama ayah, segala keperluan disediakan tanpa perlu meminta. Memang perit. Terlalu perit untuk ditelan. Bukan sekali dua saya ditipu dalam bisnes. Tapi apa yang saya boleh buat ialah bangun semula dan teruskan berjalan.

Bermula dengan menaiki basikal, saya perlahan-lahan berniaga secara kecil-kecilan untuk menampung perbelanjaan saya di universiti. Masa belajar di universiti, disitulah bermulanya kerjaya saya iaitu home tutor secara part time. Masa tu saya tak pandai nak cari klien. Apa yang saya buat masa tu ialah mencari klien melalui ejen. Namun, communication skill saya amat lemah. Saya takut berbicara dengan orang dan sangat kekok kerana saya amat tertekan selepas dibuang keluarga.

Jadi, saya mencari idea baru untuk mengumpul wang dengan ekspres supaya saya dapat beli sebuah motorsikal untuk kemudahan saya bergerak. Saya disahkan menghidapi penyakit scoliosis (tulang belakang bengkok berbentuk “c”). Saya terus buat buku mengenai kajian yang telah baca dan menarik saya masuk Islam.

Saya pergi ke semua gerai, kedai dan restoran untuk menjual buku saya tu. Saya print guna kertas A4 dan fotostat banyak2 dan laminate jadikan ia sebuah buku yang nipis. Masa tu, memang saya macam peminta sedekah. Bukan sekali dua saya dihalau, dihina dan buku saya pernah dicampak oleh pemilik restoran. Terus saya masuk tandas restoran tersebut dan menangis. Walaupun saya lelaki, tapi peristiwa tu tetap saya takkan lupa sampai bila-bila.

Kemudian, saya belajar untuk improve skill supaya saya boleh teruskan kerja sebagai home tutor walaupun masa tu hanya part time. Saya mengajar part time home tuition ketika belajar di universiti. Dari situ, saya tekad untuk kumpul duit untuk beli kereta dan rumah. Sebab dalam masyarakat cina, kami dididik untuk memiliki hartanah diusia muda. Memang ayah saya mampu beli rumah untuk saya ketika itu. Tetapi selepas masuk Islam, ayah saya membatalkan hasratnya itu. Jadi, saya sedaya upaya fikir cara lain untuk memiliki rumah. Saya tak selesa menyewa kerana banyak masalah yang perlu dihadapi. Saya memang takkan berkahwin selagi tak ada rumah kerana saya tak mahu isteri dan anak merasai kepahitan yang saya lalui. Saya nak bagi yang terbaik buat mereka walaupun rumah kos rendah. Bagi saya ia lebih baik daripada langsung tak ada.

To make story short, dari menyewa sebuah bilik stor, kemudian sewa bilik, akhirnya berkat saya mengajar home tuition, saya berjaya membeli sebuah rumah kos rendah yang bagi saya sudah cukup untuk saya berlindung dari hujan dan panas.

At the end of the day, people only know your name not your story.
(gambar ini adalah waktu saya ulang alik dari Kolej Kuis semasa semester break, disebabkan semua pelajar kena kosongkan bilik.)

Source: Adam Kelvin

December 11, 2017
[Malaysia] Polytechnic Stallholder In Penang Allegedly Told To Convert To Islam If He Wanted To Continue With The Stall

Gopi Krishnan Gopal, who operated a stall in Politeknik Seberang Perai (PSP), Penang, has now claimed that he was told to convert to Islam if he wanted to continue running his business.

The 45-year-old former engineer claimed that the PSP head of administration, who allegedly told him and his wife, Khor Hong Geik, to convert, has since retired.

Gopi Krishnan also claimed to have received calls from various quarters, including a government officer from Putrajaya, who told him to “keep things quiet” as there were efforts to get his stall reinstated.

“I told the officer to raise the issue with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s department and to ask the PM to ensure that all polytechnics in the country have a canteen operator to provide food for non-Muslims, especially vegetarians.

“We are not asking for a temple to be built in the polytechnic, just a stall to serve non-Muslims, some who are vegetarian due to religious reasons,” he said, adding that he served 1,200 non-Muslims students in PSP.

Gopi Krishnan (second on left in photo) would be lodging a police report on the matter and is also mulling legal action against the polytechnic.

Accompanying him at the press conference were Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy and lawyers Paramjit Singh and Shamsher Thind Singh.

Malaysiakini is in the process of contacting the polytechnic and Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan on the latest allegation.

Previously, Kamalanthan said the canteen operator was terminated from PSP due to “administrative reasons”. The deputy minister denied it had anything to do with racial or religious extremism.

The polytechnic has also denied allegations of racism, adding that a police report was lodged on June 26 on the contents of messages on the matter that went viral.

It is learnt that some 300 students have signed a petition, calling on the institution to reinstate the canteen operator, while several quarters have condemned PSP for its handling of a non-Muslim canteen operator.

Gopi Krishnan had been operating his canteen in PSP since September last year but was told to fold up his business by June 30, which is tomorrow.

He failed to obtain the permit for his stall despite meeting all the conditions stated in an open tender, which PSP held in May.

Gopi Krishnan was the only non-Muslim among 12 operators who participated in the open tender.

He was later told by the same head of administration, who allegedly told him to convert to Islam, that he was unable to fulfil the ISO syariah procedures.

Ramasamy said the syariah compliance procedure was something new and surprising.

“Why should a non-Muslim trader be subjected to this law? Are there requirements that in public institutions built with taxpayers’ money, both Muslims and non-Muslims, must practice syariah?

“Gopi Krishnan is clearly a victim of racial and religious intolerance in public institutions,” he said.

Ramasamy called on Kamalanathan, who is also MIC education bureau chief, and the entire PSP management, to resign.

Source: www.malaysia-chronicle.com

July 4, 2017
Nur Jihan: Converting To Islam Made It Easier For Me To Do Good

This has been sitting in my draft for the longest time. I initially had the idea of writing this because there appears to be a lot of assumptions being made on the circumstances that surrounded my conversion. So here goes!

Not a lot of people know about this but I was pretty unhappy few years back, after I graduated from university. I would have sudden panic attacks where I would be paranoid about my parents meeting harm. One incident was particularly bad. My father had gone to China. I was telling my mum that he hasn’t whatsapped us for two days, which was unusual.

I couldn’t barely sleep that night and in the rare moments that I did, I would be rudely awakened by a dream of a car crash or the metallic smell of blood. I still couldn’t sleep at 6am, so I tried calling my father’s phone but it wouldn’t get through. Probably because my plan only allowed local calls. I waited till my mum stirred in her sleep to ask her for her phone. The call went through this time but I got an automated message saying that the phone number was no longer in use. That only added to my anxiety.

I whatsapped, SMSed and emailed my dad – just trying to get any response I could. 12 noon and I still got no reply. I was a mess. Thoughts were running through my head, mostly of regret. I thought of the times I was rude to my father, and how I would always refuse to accompany him whenever he wanted company to have dinner, supper or drop by the supermarket or petrol station.

It was only in the afternoon, at about 1 or 2pm, when my mother told me that my father had called back after receiving my messages. He thought something bad had happened at home. She assured him that everything was fine, and I was just worried that he had not contacted us for 2 days.

My mum asked if I wanted to speak to him on the phone. I declined. I didn’t know what to say to him. I ran into the toilet and cried, overwhelmed with relief.

I remained kind of unhappy after that, not doing much to change things as they were. I slowly started to realize that maybe I was disappointed at the person that I was? I was always nice to friends, but I never gave my parents the love I thought they deserved and it was eating me up.

This had never bothered me before but perhaps growing up and graduating from university made me realize some things? It was as if something snapped in me and made me aware of this gaping hole that I never knew I had and left me very unfulfilled about my life.

I would hear Aizat talk about the funny things that happened at home with his family and I would get jealous. They were so close. I don’t even remember the last time I hugged or kissed my parents, let alone enjoy a meal out with them. Our outings were always quiet and tense and not much fun. I always dreaded them.

I didn’t know how to turn things around.

A friend got to know about my situation and recommended that I attend a life coaching program. I was so desperate to feel better that I dragged another friend along with me. We spent almost $3000 on the program to ‘fix’ ourselves.

It wasn’t very useful in retrospect. Sure, during those 3 days you witness miraculous changes in your attitude and mood, but I wouldn’t liken it to anything more than having a great holiday with friends.

Long story short. Life coaching programs aren’t what they shout to be, at least to me.

What I did take away from the program was the call I made to my mum (as part of the Acts of Courage we were required to do everyday) to ask for her blessings, and if she would be fine with me embracing Islam. She told me that all she wanted was for me to be happy and she hoped that I would make the decision for myself and not under the pressure of others.

Perhaps the best part of the program were the similarities I drew between the program and Islam. One example was how the program required us to do 5 daily ritual/routines that were meant to be meditative and instill discipline. That sounded a lot like the 5 daily prayers Muslims had to perform every day! There were many other aspects and reflections I had of the program that reminded me of Islam.

I thought to myself, why was I spending money on a program to make myself happier when I could get it for free by learning more about Islam? And why was relying on a 3 day course for guidance when I had something more permanent I could depend on?

That was when I thought, screw this program, let’s see what Islam offers. And I haven’t stopped learning about Islam since. And what a change my life has been!

I’m happier now. I can hug and kiss my parents freely. I learnt how to put my parents before my needs – sometimes! But it’s a start! I’m starting to become the person, the daughter, the sister, and the friend I want to be.

The day of my conversion (30 May 2015) at Darul Arqam.

I just want to leave this world feeling like I was a good person and that I have reciprocated the blessings I received in this life to the wonderful people, and the world, around me.

Beliefs aside, I believe that this desire to be a better version of yourself, to do good is an innate one for most people. We’re not unique or different from others in this aspect. Everyone finds their own way there. I don’t believe that anyone can be truly happy without it, else there wouldn’t be so many self-help books on happiness and finding purpose in life.

Skeptics often say ‘Oh, that’s sad. You actually need a religion to do good’. Great for you if you managed to get there on your own – that’s really impressive and admirable. But it wasn’t as straightforward for me. I knew what was wrong but I didn’t know how to fix it. Thankfully though, I have found my way.

I’m done with the self-help books and life coaching programs. I now have Islam and it just makes things a lot easier for me. My religion makes me more disciplined, more reflective, and implements a way of life that makes doing good easier. I think of it as a lifehack and it’s the best lifehack I ever discovered.

Think of it this way: even if there wasn’t a God, I would have lost nothing, but gained everything. I would have lived a more meaningful life. And that’s all that matters to me

Source: www.theradiantmuslim.com

February 10, 2017
Me Against The Muslim community: A Convert’s View Of Islam

After almost 20 years as a Muslim, I have arrived at some conclusions that put me at odds with the community.

1. I do not believe the hijab is necessary. It is a cultural affection of the Arabs that evolved into a political statement. It is not mentioned in the Qur’an. And the same with the niqab.

2. I think halal certification is either a scam or an unfortunate cost. Unless there are obvious reasons to suspect otherwise, everything is automatically halal.

3. I do not believe damnation permanent. Neither do I believe Salvation is exclusive to Muslims. That limits God’s Mercy.

4. I think many “authentic” narrations, even in Swahih al-Bukhari, are fabricated. We should exercise more skepticism of problematic ahadits.

5. I do not believe dog saliva is najis al-mughalazhah, or any restrictions on dogs as pets. That contradicts the Qur’an.

6. I do not believe that non-Muslims are restricted from inheriting from Muslims. There is no such stipulation in the ayat. There were historical reasons for the hadits.

7. I do not believe all forms of interest is necessarily usury, riba’. That is a fundamental ignorance of economics.

8. I certainly do not believe in gender segregation in public places. Strict gender segregation is unnatural.

9. The concept of an Islamic state is an oxymoron.

10. Drawings and artistic representations of the Prophet (s.a.w.) are not automatically blasphemous.

11. Stoning is not a valid means of capital punishment.

12. Most hudud punishments are outdated, and specific to certain conditions that do not exist for most of us.

I admit I never cared what Muslims think of me, orthodoxy or otherwise. I did not come to Islam to follow ingrained cultural practices and social beliefs masquerading as religion.

Source: Terence Helikaon Nunis

January 17, 2017
A Chinese-Muslim Convert’s Experience With Ignorance In Singapore

I need to get this off my chest.

I was seeing a new doctor yesterday (4th time this month, don’t ask) and she expressed surprise that my name sounded ‘Chinese’ when I’m wearing a hijab (and therefore look like a Muslim aka. Malay in Singapore). So I said I’m Chinese Muslim, yes, my family is Chinese, yes, I’m the only Muslim in my family, yes, I’m a convert to Islam, yes.

Then she asked me why I converted. Usual question.
Me: “I researched.” (Shortest answer, I’ve figured, that prevents unnecessary questions and only engages those who really want to know more, because, what bores people more than research?! hahaa)

And then she says this.
“Huh. You researched? Don’t research until become ISIS ah!”

WELL.
I’m not offended, no don’t get me wrong. I’ve had this said to me a few times before. But today I feel so strongly about it and am just appalled to know that it has come to the stage whereby learning and gaining knowledge in Islam can be viewed as a route to becoming ‘brainwashed to terrorism’.

Ever since my reversion close to 3 years ago (I turn 3 in 10 days time, yay!), I’ve met countless Muslims and Muslim converts in Singapore week after week, class after class. Muslims who are so knowledgeable in their field of work, AND in Islamic knowledge. Scientists, mathematicians, historians- and what they all have in common is the knowledge in Islam which sets the strongest foundation in whatever they do. And I’m learning from an ustaz who has no professional certification to his name, yet embodies the humility and disposition of people who have spent years of their lives gaining more and more knowledge. Such people are overflowing with wisdom, but they don’t ever stop learning. As my ustaz would say, “The more you know, the more you realise you don’t know.”

To all my friends out there, you’ve got nothing to be afraid of, because the epitome of a Muslim lies in gaining knowledge. And the more knowledge we gain, the less we ‘become ISIS’ (I cringe even writing this sentence). What they do/ claim to do in the name of Islam, they are no more than a bunch of terrorists. Got that? Just Terrorists. No “Islamic extremists” or “fundamentalists” or “Islamists”- just terms that the media has coined to make you believe that we Muslims have got anything to do with that bunch- when in fact we are as much related to them as you are.

Now let me go back to my jihad of trying to be as patient as I can and not have a sarcastic comeback everytime someone tries to link me to ISIS. Ugh.

—
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ- peace be upon him) said: “A servant of God will remain standing on the Day of Judgment until he is questioned about his time on earth and how he used it; about his knowledge and how he utilized it; about his wealth and from where he acquired it and in what activities he spent it; and about his body and how he used it.” (Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 148)

Source: Maryem Chin

October 9, 2016

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